Method of and apparatus for covering cores



@fikv 2%, E930. J M ROYAL 1,779,559

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING CORES Filed Sept. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 //7 ve/rfa/ vmes /t/. ia a/ Um. 28, 1930. J. M. ROYAL 1,779,559

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING CORES Filed Sept. 10, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 //7 vewfo/ James M flap/ Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES MILLARD ROYAL, OI VILLA PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR COVERING COREB Application filed September 10, 1827. Serial No. 218,840.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for covering cores, and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for applying an insulating covering to an electrical conductor.

Objects of the invention are to provide a method and apparatus by which fibers may be applied directly to a core without spinning them into a yarn.

The invention contemplates the provision of a method and apparatus in which a roving of cotton is separated into its individual fibers which are deposited in a column of air to carry them to the core to which they areto be applied where a rotating movement is imparted to the fibers, wrapping them about the core, after which the fibers are polished on the core to give the covering a neat and finished appearance.

It is believed that a complete understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in

- which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of one embodiment of the invention in an apparatus which may be employed in practic- 111 the method;

Fig. 2 is 'across sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; a

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings in which the.

same reference characters indicate similar parts in the several views and especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 which illustrate one embodiment of the invention, a'frame 11 of any suitable design is shown supporting a roller bearing 12 by means of which a housin for a fiber applying and polishing portion 0 the apparatus is rotatably mounted. A conduit 15 for feeding the insulating material to the applying and polishing mechanism is supported in the upper portion of the frame 11- and extends minates in a collector grate 18 which serves to concentrate the fibers and is provided with a plurality of slots 19 through which a large portion of the air passes radially into an annular chamber 21 so that the velocity of the air in a collector chamber 22 is greatly reduced as it passes downward into a spherical polisher chamber 23 and tubular openings 24 where it combines with the air coming down in the annular chamber 21 and is exhausted by the fan 16.

The fibrous material, such as cotton, wool or asbestos fibers, which is to form the insulating covering about the conductor is fed into the conduit in the form of a roving or sliver and passes between feed rollers 26 driven by any suitable source of power, the speed of which determines the amount of material used by the apparatus and, therefore, the thickness of the layer of insulation. From the feed rollers 26 the material passes into a carding or separating mechanism 27 which consists of a perforated drum provided on its cylindrical surface with a plurality of radially projecting pins which serve to separate the roving or sliver into its individual fibers and the current of air passing through the perforations in the drum at the exit side of the drum chamber serves to remove the fibers from the drum and carry them into the collector grate 18. In the collector grate 18 a large portion of the air is permitted to escape radially through the slots 19 and the fibers moving at a considerably retarded ve locity drop into the collector chamber 22 where they are given a rotary movement by the rotation of the collector chamber. The rotation of the fibersin the collector chamber causes them to be wrapped about the conductor and upon a downward movement of the conductor caused by an suitable advancing mechanism (not shown the wrapped fibers pass into the lishing chamber 28 which is provided wit two resilient polishing blades 28 which polish the fibers on the conductor, giving the insulation a neat and finished a pearance.

A modi ed form of an apparatus embodying the invention is shown 1n Figs. 4, 5 and 6 in which the material is fedinto the conduit 15 and is passed between the feed rollers 26 from whence it is carried by the air current into a receiving cup 31. At the entrance to the receiving cup a lurality of ins 32 are provided w ich ten to separate t e.roving or sliver into its individual fibers. Adjacent the pins 32 in the receiving cup are a plurality of apertures 33 through which a current of air is passed upon each revolution of the receiving cup as it passes a slot 34 in the flared portion of the conduit extending over the cup. The current of air is a result of the low pressure in the receiving cup due to the centrifugal fan 16 and serves to remove the fibers from the fingers 32. A current of air in the receivin cup entering through the conduit carries t e material into an annular channel 41 provided in the receiving cup from whence the fibers are carried by the air current around an applicator finger 42, the front face of which contacts with the conductor 60 and is provided with a plurality of grooves 43 so as not to make contlnuous contact with the conductor throughout its length. A polisher 44 is pivotally mounted on a pin 45 and is urged lightly toward the conductor by a spring 46 until the apparatus attains its normal speed when the proper force will be applied to the polisher by the action of ,entrifugal force. The air entering the annular passage 41 escapes throu h the slots 43 giving the applicator and p0 isher an opportunit to apply the fibers to the conductor while the air passes through the passage 51 and is exhausted by the fan 16. Access may be had to the chamber housing thea plicator and the polisher by withdrawing t e pin 45 and removing the polisher for the purpose of cleaning the apparatus.

The invention makes it possible to use a low grade of material which it would be difficult to spin into a yarn of uniform quality and strength and at the same time obviates the necessity of spinnin the fibers into a yarn and produces a hig grade of insulation.

It will be understood that the invention herein described and illustrated is merely a useful and convenient form of the invention which is capable of many other modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for applying a fibrous covering to a core, means for producing a cur rent of air to convey the fibrous material to the core, a collector grate for concentrating the fibers and exhausting a portion of the air,

and means for wrapping the fibers about the CON.

2. In an apparatus for applying a fibrous covering to a core, means for producing a currentof air to convey the fibrous material to the core, a collector grate havin a plurality of slots for concentrating the fi rs and exhausting a rtion of the air, and means for wrap ing t e fibers about the core.

3. n an apparatus for applyin a fibrous covering to a core, means for ee ing a roving of cotton at a predetermined rate to obtam a given thickness of covering, means for separating the roving into indivldual fibers, means for producing an air current to con vey the fibers to the core, a collector grate to collectthe fibers and exhaust a portion of the air current, and m ans for revolving the fibers to apply the fibers to the core.

4. n an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, an air exhausting means through which a core may be advanced a conduit connected therewith for surrounding the core and through which air is exhausted by the first mentioned means for conveying separated fibers of material to the core, a terminal member for the conduit having a slotted wall for decreasing the velocity of the air, collecting the fibers and depositing them upon the core, and means associated with the exhausting means for revolving the deposited fibers about the axis of and thereby wrapping them around the core.

5. In an apparatus for coverin cores with a fibrous material, a rotatable ousing, an exhaust fan therein and rotatable therewith, a fixed conduit terminating at the housing adjacent the intake side of the fan, and means for rotating the housing to cause fibers to be conveyed to the core by air exhausted through the conduit and to be wrapped around a core passing through a portion of the conduit and the housing.

6. In an apparatus for covering cores with a fibrous material, a rotatable housing, an exhaust fan therein and rotatable therewith, a fixed conduit terminating at the housing, a tapered extension thereof projecting within the housing, a tubular member within the housing and rotatable therewith having an outwardly flared and surrounding the ta ered extension of the conduit, means for de ivering fibers to the conduit, and means for rotating the housin and the exhaust fan to cause the fibers to e carried through the conduit in an air column and the extension thereof, and to wrap them by means of the tubular member around a core passing through a portion of the conduit, and through the extension, the tubular member and the fan.

7. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a rotatable housing, a fan carried by said housing and rotatable therewith, a tubular member disposed in said houstil ing and in communication with the intake side of said fan, a conduit disposed in communication with said housing, and said tubular member, and means for rotating said housing and said fan to cause a column of air to pass through said conduit and said tubular member. 7

8. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a rotatable housing, a fan carried by said housing and rotatable therewith, a tubular member disclosed in communication with the intake side of said fan, a conduit disposed in communication with said housing and said tubular member, means for rotating said housing and said fan to cause a column of air to pass through said conduit and said tubular member, and means for delivering fibers to the conduit to be carried by the column of air into said tubular member and be wrapped around a core passing through a portion of said conduit, and said tubular member.

9. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a rotatable housing, a fan carried by said housing and rotatable therewith, a tubular member disposed in said housing and in communication with the intake side of said fan, a conduit disposed in communication with said tubular member and having a plurality of slots providing communication with said housing, means for rotating said housing and said fan to cause a column of air to pass through said conduit, and said tubular member, and means for delivering fibers to said conduit to be carried by the column of air into said tubular memher and be wrapped around a core passing through a portion of said conduit, and said tubular member.

10. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a rotatable housing, a fan carried by said housing and rotatable therewith, a tubular member disposed in said housing in communication with the intake side of said fan, a conduit disposed in communication with said tubular member and having a portion extending inwardly toward the axis of said tubular member, means for rotating said housing and said fan to cause a column of air to pass through said conduit, and said tubular member, and means for delivering fibers to said conduit to be carried by the column of air into said tubular member and be wrapped around a core passin through a portion of said conduit, and said tubul' r member.

11. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a. rotatable housing,- a fan carried b said housin and rotatable therewith, a tu ular member fiisposed in comconduit and said tubular member, means for delivering a fibrous material to said conduit, and means disposed in said conduit for separating the fibers from the fibrous material whereby the fibers may be carried by the column of air into said tubular member and be wrapped around a core passing through a portion of said conduit and said tubular member.

12. In an apparatus for covering cores with fibrous material, a rotatable housing, a fan carried by said housing and rotatable therewith, a tubular member disposed in communication with the intake side of said fan, a conduit disposed in communication with said housing and said tubular member, means for rotating said housing and said fan to cause a column of air to pass through said conduit and said tubular member, means for delivering a fibrous material to said conduit, means disposed in said conduit for separating the fibers from the fibrous material whereby the fibers may be carried by the col umn of air into said tubular member and be wrapped around a core passing through a portion of said conduit and said tubular member, said separating means comprising a rotatable member, and radially extending projections carried by said rotatable member for engaging with the fibrous material.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 29 day of August, A. D. 1927.

, JAMES MILLARD ROYAL.

munication with the intake side of said fan, 4

a conduit disposed in communication with a said housing and said tubular member, means for rotating aid housing and said fan 0 cause a col of air to pass through said 

